Electric-railway system



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

O. K. HARDING.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY SYSTEM.

Patented May 5, 1891.

(N Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. O. K. HARDING.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY SYSTEM.

No. 451,637; I Patented May 5,1891.

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IIIIL v wxm WW I m 5 V (No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3.

0. K. HARDING.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY SYSTEM. No. 451,637; Patented May 5,1891.

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UNiTED STATES rricn.

PATENT ELECTRIC-RAILWAY SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,637, dated May5,1891.

Application filed October 27, 18 90.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES K. HARDING, a citizen of the United States,residing at Atlantic, in the county of Cass and State of Iowa, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Electric-Railway Systems, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates, generally, to an electrical railway system, andmore particularly to a system of underground conductors therefor, and tothe manner of operating the circuit between the same, and the devicesupon the car which are to be operated thereby.

The invention will first be described, and then more particularlypointed out in the claims.

Like letters refer to the same parts in the several figures of thedrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of a truck carrying theusual electrical devices, a certain attachment which I employ, and aportion or section of a track and a main conductor. Fig. 2 is a planview of a section of a track including a crossing and two of the casingscontaining the circuit-completing devices, together with one of theshoes, and an indication of the collector in dotted lines. Figs. 3 and 4are views in side elevation of the easing (with one side of the casingremoved) and its inclosed mechanism, but respectively indicating thecover closed and the mechanism inactive and the cover open and themechanism active. Figs. 5 and G are respectively cross-sect ions on theline X X of Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of my improvedshoe. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the cover of the box, with a part brokenaway. Fig.9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the same, showing thelockin g arrangement. Fig. 10 is similar to Fig. 9, except that the shoeis shown in place in the act of unlocking the cover; and Fig. 11 is adetail view.

The main idea of the present invention is to provide a subterraneanconductor for an electric railway which will have thorough insulationand at the same time will be concealed from view and be secured fromoutside interference, and yet will afford ample and easy provision forconnection with the car and its electric motor. Generally speaking,these ends are accomplished by carrying a covered wire adjacent to arail and through Serial No. 869,436. (No model.)

a series of normally-closed casings or boxes in which electrical contactis made with the main conductor by means of a circuit-completer whoseopposite ends may be projected simultaneously into contact with a baredporand with a current-collector or contact upon the car. Provision isalso made for additionally protecting the main conductor, contact, orbranch from water or moisture by insimilar device. A sliding cover isprovided to normally close the aperture in the casing through which thecurrent-completer is to be projected, and the car carries a short shoewhich operates the cover, and indirectly, through other mecl1auism,movesthe circuitcompleter into and out of contact.

It is obvious that many variations may be made in the details of myinvention without departing from its spirit; and I do not wish to beunderstood as intending to limit myself to the specific construction,which will now be described as an illustration of the best manner yetdevised by me of carrying out the general plan of the invention.

Adjacent to the rails R B, preferably between the same and near one ofthem,are arranged two or more boxes or casings B B, which may be made ofcast-iron or other suitable material, and the main portions of which aredesigned to be placed below the level of the track. These boxes areplaced at any convenient distances apart, and inclose certain mechanismwhich will be hereinafter described. Practically parallel with the railsand adjacent to the inside of one of them is arranged a main conductorM, which has an insulating-covering, and passes through the boxes B B,preferably near one corner thereof, as is shown in the drawings. Thecorner through which the main conductor passes may be divided bysuitable partitions from the rest of the box. and filled with insulatingsubstances surrounding the conductor, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4:of the drawings. The slide-bar D is arranged to move freely in thevertical guides G G, which are arranged in the box, and has connectedwith its lower end a piston working in a cylinder supported upon thefloor of the box, thus constituting a dash-pot. Of course this dash-potis protion of or a branch from the main conductor,

casing the same in an inverted cup or bell or vided with a groove oraperture to permit the air to slowly escape in the usual manner. Aspiral or other spring E has one of its ends connected to the slide andthe other end to the top 0, and consequently there is a constanttendency for the slide to move upward; but this tendency is normallyovercome by the pressure of the long arm of the elbow-lever L upon astud or pin attached to the side of the siide, the short arm of suchelbowlever being normally pressed upward by the arm I, which is aflixedto the sliding portion of the cover, and is caused to press upon thelower end of the short branch of the lever by the action of a spiralspring F, the two termi-' nals of which are respectively affixed to thearm I and to the inside of the box. Pivoted in suitable bracketsattached to the cover is a lever II, one end of which I prefer to weightand the other end to form as a hook.

Upon the side of the arm I is a pin N, with which the hooked end of thelever engages, and the hook is beveled in one direction to permit thepin to pass freely over it when it is moving in the direction of suchbevel. Sceured to one side of the slide-bar, but insulated therefrom, iswhat I designate as the circuit-completing device. It is marked by theletter I and is formed of the J-shaped rod, which may have acontactbrush at its upper end and a platinum or other contactpoint atits lower upturned end. Arranged within an inverted bell or cup Q arecontactsprings IV, which are electrically connected with the mainconductor. In place of the contact-springs, any other form of electrodemay be employed at this point. It is mani fest that by inclosing thecontact-spring or other electrode within the bell the contained air willprevent water from rising to such contacts and injuring them. In otherwords, the cup acts on the diving-bell principle. The top Q is providedwith an opening therethrough, and arranged to move in suitable waysformed upon said top is a movable cover 0. In order to prevent childrenand moddlers from interfering with this opening, I prefer to provide thecover with an automatic lock of any suitable construction. A convenientform of lock is illustrated in Figs. 8, t), and 10 of the drawings. Thislock which is shown consists of a spring-acted lug V, one side of whichis rectangular and abrupt in contour, and the other side of which isbeveled toward the outer side of the box. The under side of the cover isprovided with areees s for this lug or bolt, and with a groove extendingfrom the recess to the outer extremity of the cover, in which groove isplaced a strip \V, which latter at its outer end is wedgeshaped, as isshown, and has its inner end beveled to correspond with and rest againstthe beveled side of the lug.

Secured to the under side and nearone end of the truck pivotally byparallel bars is a shoe S, which I prefer to construct as is shown inFig. '7, in which one end of the shoe, as

shown, is beveled,and has a thin flange orextension S. Secured also tothe under side of the truck and in the vicinity of the track is acurrent-collector or contact K, which may be made of any suitableconducting material and shape, and is electrically connected to thecurrent-controlling devices and the electrical motor thereon, and thenceto the ground or return conductor in the usual manner.

The operation of the parts hereinbefore mentioned will now be described.The main conductor is thoroughly insulated and has no portion exposedoutside of the box. \Vithin the box the contact between the mainconductor and the lower end of the circuit-completing device is madewithin the bell near the upper end thereof, whereby all water which mayarise within the bell is excluded from approaching the exposedelectrodes. By this manner of doubly protecting the exposed portions ofthe electrical conductors, leakage is to a great extent avoided and suchperfect insulation attained that a current of greater voltage may beemployed. Normally the eircuit-completing device is contained completelywithin the box or casing, and the circuit between the main conductor andthis connecting device is broken. Moreover, the hole in the top of thebox is covered and the cover is locked in position. \Vhen, however, acar carrying a shoe passes over these boxes the shoe presses against thebeveled outer end of the cover and slides the latter along so as touncover the opening, the lug or bolt being withdrawn by the flange ofthe shoe, causing the strip W to depress the lug or bolt. The cover, inuncovering the hole in the top of the box, carries with it the arm I andrelieves the elbow-lever from the pressure of such arm, whereupon thespring E throws the sliding bar D upward and the latter carries with itthe circuitcon'1pleting device P, and thus makes the contact between thelowcr end of the latter and the branch of the main conductor, and at thesame time between the brush upon the upper end of such circuit-completerand the current-collector upon the ear. The shoe, however, is made quiteshort, so as to adapt it to round curves, and therefore the electricalcircuit between the main conductor and the car would be maintained onlyfor the instant during which the shoe was acting upon the cover if noother provision were made; but as the cover is moved by the shoe the pinN on. the bent bar I slides over the curved' and bent end of the leverII and is caught by the hook upon the latter, and thus the cover is heldopen and the brush in contact with the current-collector as long as thelatter is over the said brush. When the current-collector passes beyondthe brush, the spring It carries the sliding bar a little farther up andcauses the same to strike a pin Z, which is arranged upon the side ofthe lever Il,ncar the weighted end thereof, and causes the hooked end ofsuch lever to become disengaged from ITO the pin and the bar I, andconsequently the spring F, which is more powerful than the spring E,exerts its force so as to cause the cover to close the opening and causethe elbowlever L to depress the circuit-completer. Of course the enrrent-collector normally must be long enough so as to extend over thesecond box before it passes beyond the first box.

Having thus described my invention and the best way which I have up tothis time devised for carrying it out, I will now state what I desire toclaim and secure by Letters Patent- 1. In an electric-railway system,the combination of an insulated main conductor, a

series of stationary main-conductor contacts or electrodes protected ininsulated cups, electrically-propelled vehicles having currentcollectorscarried thereunder, and a movable circuit-completing device normallyinsulated from the main-supply conductor, but adapted to contact withthe main conductor, substantially as described.

2. In an electric-railway system,the combination of an insulated mainconductor, a series of casings having openings through the same, movablecovers for such openings, stationary main-conductor contacts located inthe top of insulating-cups within said casings and held out of contactwith the main-conductor electrode by mechanism controlled by said cover,but adapted when released to move the contact with the main-conductorelectrode and the current-collector on an electrically-propelled vehiclesimultaneously, and a device carried by the cars for removing saidcovers and allowing the circuit-completing device to operate,substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an electric-railway system, the combination of an insulated mainconductor, mainconductor contacts located in a series of boxes orcasings having portions with sliding covers for same, circuit-completingdevices normally retained in said casings and controlled by mechanismoperated by said covers, a car having an electric motor and carrying acurrent-collector thereunder connected therewith, and a device forremoving the covers, consisting of a short shoe adapted to follow thegroove of one of the track-rails and a catch for retaining the cover inan open position while the car is passing and adapted to be released bythe circuit-completing device afterthe current-collector has passed,substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an electric-railway system, the combination of an insulated mainconductor, a casing having an open portion, a spring-pressedcircuit-completing device normally contained in such casing, a detentfor restraining such circuit-completer, a car provided with an electricmotor, a contact, and also a device for opening the cover and releasingthe detent, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an electric-railway system, the combifor removing the cover fromthe opening, and

thereby releasing the circuit-co1npleter and permitting the same to beprojected into the path of the contact upon the car, substantially asshown and described.

6. In an electrical-railway system, the combination of an insulated mainconductor,a casing having an open portion, a movable cover for such openportion, a spring-pressed circuit-completin g device normally containedwithin such casing, an elbow-lever having one arm resting upon andserving to depress the circuit-completer, a bent arm secured to thecover, and a spring for normally forcing the same against the shorterarm of the elbow-lever, a weighted lever having a hook at one end forengaging a pin upon the bent arm, and a lug or stud upon its sidearranged in the path of the circuit-completer, a car having an electricmotor and current-collector or contact extending thereunder and servingto limit the extent of the stroke of the circuit-completer, and a shortshoe suspended so as to strike and operate the movable cover,substantially as shown, and described.

7. In an electric-railway system, the combination of an insulated mainconductor, a casing having an open portion, a movable cover, a lock forthe same, a circuit-completer normally contained within such casing, acarhaving an electric motor,a currentcollector or contact, and also adevice for releasing the lock and moving the cover from the opening,substantially as shown and described.

8. In an electric-railway system, the combination of a casing and aninsulated main conductor having its exposed electrode or contact withina reversed bell or cup located within the casing, and a J-shapedcircuitcompleter having one end adapted to contact with the electrodeswithin the belt or cup and the other end designed to contact with thecurrent-collector on the car, substantially as shown and described. o

9. I11 an electric system, the combination of'an insulated mainconductor, a series of casings having open portions, circuit-completingdevices normally contained Within the casings, and a car havingcurrent-collectors at least equal in length to the distance between twoof the casings, and said car also carrying a short shoe for removing thecovers from the opening in said casings, substantially as shown anddescribed.

10. I11 an electric-railway system,the combination of an insulated mainconductor a inain-condnetor contact or electrode insulated and protectedin the top of an insulated cnp, a car having an electricmotorand acurrenteollector, a eirenit-completing device, and means for projecting"it simultaneously into contact with the current-collector and themain-eomluctor contact orelectrode,substantially as described.

11. In an electric-railway system, an insulated main conductor providedwith contact portions or electrodes protected in inclosed casings orboxes, an eleetrically-propelled ve- Witnesses:

A. G. \VATERMAN, Wu. H. CAMERON.

